Belly chain anchor

ABSTRACT

The belly chain anchor is a system that is incorporated into incarceration uniforms that allows law enforcement officers to secure belly chains to the uniforms, preventing the detainees from stepping out of the belly chains and using them as weapons. The belly chain anchor limits the mobility of one or both of the detainees&#39; hands or arms by securing the belly chain to the uniform. The belly chain is secured to the anchor at about the location that the chain that connects to the detainee&#39;s handcuff chain.

BACKGROUND

Currently, incarceration uniforms do not contain a means to secure thebelly chains used to handcuff detainees while they are in use. As aresult, the belly chain encircles the detainees' waists, connecting thehandcuffs secured on each wrist. Detainees can step out of the bellychains, placing both chains on the front or back side of their bodies,providing mobility for their hands and arms, and enabling them to usethe belly chains as deadly weapons against themselves, officers, andothers. The belly chain anchor secures the belly chains to theincarceration uniform, preventing their use as weapons.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The belly chain anchor is made of sturdy material and securely fastenedto incarceration uniforms, allowing one to secure the belly chains tothe incarceration uniform, preventing the detainees from stepping out ofthe chains and using them as weapons.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the belly chain anchor assembled, prior to being securedinto the incarceration uniform.

FIG. 2 shows the placement of the belly chain anchor into theincarceration uniform top and jumpsuit, including placement of theanchor tabs.

FIG. 3 shows the side view of the belly chain anchor secured into theincarceration uniform, including placement of the anchor tabs.

FIG. 4 shows how the belly chain anchor interacts with the belly chainand padlock to secure the belly chain to the belly chain anchor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the belly chain anchor made of 1000 denier nylon,approximately 1.5 to 2 inches wide, the length depending on the size ofthe uniform in which it is being placed. The main strap has two anchortabs, made of the same nylon as the strap, stitched onto the strap atthe location of the left and right sides of the uniform. These tabs areattached to the strap by reinforced stitching, using a high strengththread such as nylon thread. The stitching should be a different colorthan the nylon to permit observation of the condition of the stitching.Each of the anchor tabs have a slotted anchor hole approximately 0.75inches in length, which is reinforced by stitching. The belly chainanchor can be made long enough to be sewn around the front and back ofthe uniform, or just one half, preferably the back.

FIG. 2 shows the placement of the belly chain anchor on the twodifferently types of uniforms, those with separate tops and those thatare jumpsuits. The belly chain anchor is placed on the interior orexterior of the uniforms at about the lower waist area, with the anchortabs on the left and right sides. Alternatively, the belly chain anchorcan be sewn so that the anchor tabs lay on the front and back of theuniform if desired.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the belly chain anchor on a uniform top,with the anchor tabs aligned on the sides.

FIG. 4 shows the placement of the belly chain anchors with the bellychains. The belly chain anchor is sewn into the uniform, ideally duringthe manufacturing. When belly chains are placed around the waists ofdetainees by law enforcement officials, with one chain on the front andone chain on the back of the detainees' waists, the officer can securethe belly chain to the uniform with the belly chain anchor.

When utilizing uniforms with belly chain anchors, the law enforcementofficial places the belly chains on the detainee, then takes a padlockor other shackle locking mechanism and places it through a chain link inthe belly chain and through one of the anchor holes. The officer thenlocks the mechanism thereby securing the belly chain to the uniform andlimiting the detainees arm mobility. This limited mobility prevents thedetainee from stepping out from the middle of the belly chains and usingthem as a weapon.

This anchoring system can be used as an alternative cuffing system,particularly for abnormally large people. It can also be used in non-lawenforcement industries, such as whenever arm mobility needs to belimited, such as various healthcare situations.

While the present invention has been described in terms of specificembodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited tothese disclosed embodiments. This invention may be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided byway of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough,complete and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to thoseskilled in the art. Indeed, many modifications and other embodiments ofthe invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to whichthis invention pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered byboth this disclosure, the drawings and the claims.

1. A belly chain anchor comprising: a strip of reinforcement materialsewn to the interior or exterior circumference or front/back half of anincarceration uniform, either to the lower portion of a shirt or themidsection of a jumpsuit at the lower waist line, with anchor tabssecurely stitched to the left and right sides of the belly chain anchor,containing reinforced slotted holes in each the left and right sideanchor tabs.
 2. The invention of claim 1 further comprising leather,nylon, or other durable material, which is integrated into theincarceration uniform by stitching, as to securely fasten it to theuniform.
 3. The invention of claim 2 further comprising one slottedanchor hole at least 0.75 inches long in each of the anchor tabs, withthe anchor tabs positioned on the left and right sides of the uniform,at about the location of the detainees arms.
 4. The invention of claim 3further comprising reinforced stitching of the left and right slottedanchor holes.